A couple days before Christmas, I finally felt the “spark” to install and try out Ōkami, a game I was gifted some years ago but never played before. Kinda strange, since the game came out on ps2 and it was my main console around 2006-2007… until I read that it was in English only. Makes sense!
Still, I am very happy that I am playing it during the holidays, where I can feel less guilty about ignoring my studies, my desire to draw again or anything that feels important to do for my life. I wasn’t expecting the game to feel like another I played so much on ps2 3 years prior, where I first spent hours trying to get past the demo in all ways kid me could think of, then getting my pirated copy for Christmas.
This game was Dog’s Life.
With Ōkami, I’m feeling like a child again: exploration, finding stuff, being annoying to the humans, no direction whatsoever, with the addendum I am a god and I can fight yokai. Super cool!
I can also see the strong LoZ inspirations in the dungeons (I’ve just finished my first one with the first boss fight), but the actual LoZ dungeons feel less fun than the one I played through the game.
I can’t not love the art style and the way that Amaterasu, as a dog, has quite the attitude! Issun, in contrast, is that typical slightly pervy side-kick I can’t stand, but it doesn’t influence my love for this game so far.
I really can’t wait to play more, and it’s what I’ll be doing this Christmas, between traditional food and the coziness of my home.